Stop I-69


NEW CALENDAR
October 1, 2008, 8:38 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

– THE NEW CALENDAR CAN BE FOUND DIRECTLY UNDER MORE INFO. TO THE LEFT.
– PLEASE KEEP CHECKING AS NEW EVENTS WILL BE ADDED SOON.
– ARE YOU HOSTING AN EVENT RELATED TO STOPPING I-69? PLEASE LET US KNOW SO WE CAN ADD IT TO THE CALENDAR. THANKS!



Background on recent repression
June 23, 2009, 7:54 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

       After what seems to be years of work on the part of ISP to pin charges on perceived leadership of  I-69 resistance, two Indiana residents, Gina ‘Tiga’ Wertz and Hugh Farrell, were arrested April 24th.  The charges  are essentially charges of conspiracy to collectively organize, to attempt to challenge environmental and social devastation in the form of I-69 in Southern Indiana.  The name the  state is giving this challenge is felony corrupt business influence, essentially a racketeering charge used against the mob under RICO statutes . Clearly these charges are a move by the state to further erase social organization as a possibility within our communities.

Tiga, a long time Indiana resident, was arrested early in the afternoon as she appeared in Gibson County court on charges stemming from anti-I-69 actions this past summer. The arrest was made by the Indiana State Police, including Officer Brad Chandler, a particularly slimy scumbag whose full time job is to harass environmental activists. Tiga was taken to the Pike County jail, where she was held for 11 days while the $10000 needed for her bail was raised. Her arrest warrant details five charges: 2 counts of intimidation, 2 counts of conversion (all misdemeanors) and 1 count of corrupt business influence (a class C felony).

A couple hours after Tiga was accosted at the courthouse, Hugh was arrested in northern Indiana by a US marshal driving an unmarked vehicle. Rather than pulling over the vehicle Hugh was traveling in, the cop trailed the car for some unknown duration waiting for it to stop, then arrested Hugh outside of a gas station. He was then taken to join Tiga in the Pike County jail, where he was held on $20,000 cash bond for 4 days. His charges are the same as Tiga’s, though many of the details of their warrants differ. Maximally, their charges carry 12 year sentences.

These arrests are an obvious continuance and escalation of the harassment of anti-I-69 activities in southern Indiana over the past two decades. Recently, I-69 resistance in both Evansville and Bloomington has been systematically targeted by myriad law enforcement agencies from throughout the state as well as by federal agencies. To varying degrees, nearly 20 people now are held captive by the court system on the basis of their alleged involvement in various anti-I-69 protests occuring last summer. Chad Frazier of Evansville is currently serving a 2 month sentence for alleged events surrounding a tree-sit eviction by the police. As the state tries to squash its opposition by ensnaring individuals in isolating court cases, by monitoring and threatening individuals to try to pinpoint ‘leaders’ or groups responsible, it is important to recognize how any such instance of individual repression might easily and effectively become supportive of repression in general. To counter such repression with honest reflection on its functioning and on how we might challenge rather than support it, is to stand in solidarity with Tiga and Hugh.



Get Your Tickets For This Amazing Event Now!!!
June 17, 2009, 6:15 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

Hugh Tiga Dinner



No Stimulus Money for I-69!
March 18, 2009, 5:20 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

A recent article from the Greene County Daily World discusses the impacts of the economic stimulus package on the I-69 project in Indiana.

http://gcdailyworld.com/story/1511094.html

Consultant offers Linton-Stockton Chamber members an update on I-69

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Funding and I-69 were the topics of discussion during the Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting Tuesday.Eric Swickard, I-69 Tier 2 Project Management Consultant, provided an update on the $700 million plus project — which will connect Evansville to U.S. 231 just north of Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center in three construction sections.

Major Moves provides the majority of the $700 million funding for sections one through three of the project, he noted.

But the entire I-69 project is divided into six sections with Greene County as section four — which notes U.S. 231 and State Road 37 as known interchanges, Swickard said.

The big question is funding for section four, five and six — which connects Crane NSWC to Indianapolis.

“If there is no funding it will proceed along as INDOT,” he said, noting innovative funding as an option.

The I-69 project is not eligible to receive funding through the initial round of the current stimulus legislation package — which stipulates the project must be complete in one year, Swickard said.

“There’s no way with I-69,” he added.

But a provision within the bill could provide up to $300 million for the project, he noted.

“It’s a very competitive process. INDOT is planning on it for I-69. … It can be innovative funding,” he said.

Potential interchanges for I-69 in Greene County include State Road 45, State Road 54 and the Greene/Monroe County line.

“The chances of both are little. It will probably be either or. We won’t know until the Environmental Impact Studies (EIS) are released,” he explained.

Projected construction of sections four through six is noted as 2016-20 in the INDOT long-range I-69 Transportation Plan which connects Crane NSWC to Indianapolis beginning with U.S. 231 and ending at I-465.

The INDOT plan notes section five as State Road 37 to State Road 39 and section six as State Road 39 to I-465.

The following is an update on section one through three of the I-69 project:

* The I-69 project broke ground for section one (I-64 to State Road 64) on July 17, 2008.

* Construction of section one is projected to be complete in March 2011.

* A public hearing for section two — which connects State Road 64 to U.S. 50 — is Thursday, March 19 at the Pike Central School.

* The final EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) should be available six to seven months after the public hearing. A final decision will be made about two to three months later.

* A public hearing for section three — which connects U.S. 50 to U.S. 231 — is March 26 at the North Daviess Elementary School.

* The final EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) should be available six to seven months after the public hearing. A decision will be made about two to three months later.

* Final design for section two and three is projected for 2009-13.

* Right of way acquisition for section two and three is projected for 2010-14.

* Construction for sections two and three is 2011-15.



Bloomington Against I-69 Callout Meeting!!!
January 30, 2009, 4:28 am
Filed under: Uncategorized

We have a bunch of great events coming up for people against I-69.  We are having a call out meeting at Woodburn hall in RM 003 on Tuesday February 3rd @ 7pm.  Food will be provided.  We look forward to seeing you there!



Bloomington Against I-69: new ways to end construction
January 30, 2009, 4:15 am
Filed under: Uncategorized

Bloomington Against I-69 will be coordinating a large scale drive to contact Indiana state representatives about an important piece of new legislation, beginning Friday, January 30th, and continuing through next week. We want everyone to write or call their state representatives in support of HB 1656, a piece of legislation that would cut all funding to Mitch Daniels’ I-69 highway project.  This bill would take the $1.5 billion that the governor has set aside for I-69 construction and direct it towards local road maintenance and improvements.  The bill would also make sure that Daniels does not have control over any economic stimulus money that might come from the federal government.  This is critical, as the governor has already pledged to spend at least some of that money on I-69.

Many House members feel that it is unconscionable for the state to be sitting on $1.5 billion when the people of Indiana need jobs right now.  We agree, and applaud them for introducing this strong piece of legislation.  After all, when the money finally gets spent, it is estimated that I-69 will cost $1,560,000 for every job it creates!

We feel that it is our duty as people of Bloomington and citizens of the world to oppose new-terrain I-69.  If we are to keep our strong community, we cannot allow our neighbors to be evicted and our countryside destroyed by this road.  In a time when global warming threatens our future, it is senseless to build new highways instead of strengthening sustainable transportation options.  And, just as importantly, the “NAFTA superhighway” will help to export our manufacturing jobs to exploitative Mexican and Latin American sweatshops.  In these times of economic and environmental crisis, we simply cannot afford this highway.

We will be holding a town-hall meeting about the legislation in Woodburn 003 on Tuesday, February 3rd, beginning at 7:00 pm.  We will also be manning tables where people can write or call their state legislators at locations around campus and in People’s Park.  If we are going to make our voices heard, we need to act fast and show our legislators that we are behind them!  We urge everyone to contact their state representative and let them know your stance on HB 1656.  You can find out who your legislators are, and get contact information for them, at http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/.  If you are in Peggy Welch’s district (Bloomington) it is especially important that you get in touch, since she is on the committee that is considering the bill this coming Monday.

Bloomington Against I-69



Weekly Meetings Update
January 26, 2009, 5:23 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

The weekly meetings will be on Wednesdays for the rest of the semester.  Check back soon for the time and place!  There is no meeting tonight.



I-69 Resistance Meetings Are Back!
January 14, 2009, 5:35 am
Filed under: Uncategorized

Starting next week, on Monday the 19th, we will be having a weekly I-69 resistance meeting at 7pm.  Check the Calendar for more details!  Also coming soon, will be our big Week of Awareness exposing the I-69 Expansion!  That will be on the calendar soon.  We hope to get alot of activist involvement from you & all our friends!  Check out this video from the summer that exposes this NAFTA SUPERHIGHWAY that must be stopped!!!  



Last Meeting of the Semester
December 15, 2008, 8:43 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

Tomorrow, Tuesday 12/16, is the last resistance meeting to I-69 of the semester.  It starts at 7pm and will be held @ the IMU in the market (food court).  Please come out if you can make it!



Philly ADL Joins Fight Against I-69!
November 21, 2008, 11:55 am
Filed under: Uncategorized

“On Monday, October 27th, the Philly (Philadelphia, PA) Animal Defense League (ADL)and friends made our public debut in the streets and at the corporate offices in downtown Philly. This newest chapter of the Animal Defense League was inspired and spawned out of the global campaign to shut down Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) and to stop Interstate 69 (I-69), the North American Free Trade Agreement’s (NAFTA) superhighway, for good.

“For the Animals, for the Earth and for the people, Philly Animal Defense
League and our friends have joined the fight against I-69.”

Continue reading



Don’t Miss Out on These Two Events…
November 10, 2008, 7:10 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

Tuesday (11/11) @ 7pm, the Bloomington I-69 Resistance group is having a meeting @ Laughing Planet.

Thursday (11/13) @ 7:30pm, their is a Catholic Worker Roundtable discussion @ 577 Graham Pl in Bloomington.

Please Check the Calendar for more information!